The Capitol’s Statuary Hall was filled with lawmakers, family, staff and friends of the Fairport lawmaker during a memorial service held for her Wednesday afternoon.

Slaughter died in March at age 88 after being hospitalized for a fall in her Washington, D.C., home. First elected in 1987 to represent the Rochester area in Congress, Slaughter emerged as an energetic leader of the Democratic Party and a passionate champion for progressive issues.

Congressional speakers remembered Slaughter on Wednesday for her conviction, humor, kindness and progressive ideals. Several choked up while recounting their memories of Slaughter, but the memorial was also punctuated by laughter as they recalled her wit and how she always spoke her mind.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said that while Slaughter was born in Kentucky, she was “a New Yorker through and through” who never backed down from a fight.

He shared a memory of Slaughter driving him around her district, and said everywhere they went was “like a family reunion.”

“She loved Rochester, and Rochester loved her,” Schumer said. Her absence will be felt by her constituents and the entire New York delegation, he said.

“I always thought that Louise had to stay in office as long as she did to give the rest of us time to catch up with her,” Schumer said.

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, announced that a walnut tree was planted in Slaughter’s honor Wednesday on the Capitol grounds. Slaughter’s daughter, Robin Slaughter Minerva, who spoke at the end of the memorial, said that Slaughter “would have loved that tree — and the fact that it happened in record time.”

“One of the great privileges and joys of my speakership was to name Louise Slaughter the first woman chair of the Rules Committee,” Pelosi said. “Because of the excellence of her work.”

Current House Speaker Paul Ryan presented Slaughter’s family with the American flag that was flown above the Capitol in her honor on the day she died. He called her a “one-liner machine” and said “you could not help but like her.”

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“Formidable doesn’t even begin to describe her,” Ryan said. “She was so resolute, so certain in her point of view.”

Several members of the House who worked closely with Slaughter also paid tribute.

Rep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., who called himself a “longtime buddy” of Slaughter, called her a visionary for her achievements as an advocate for women’s rights and the only microbiologist in Congress.

“Louise loved much, and was much-loved,” Tonko said.

Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wisconsin, said Slaughter never skipped a beat, and called her “the life of the party.”

“This woman had swagger, she had style,” Moore said.

Rep. Louise Slaughter(Photo11: Provided photo)

“Had she not worked in this insane environment, I believe that she would have hit 100 at least,” Moore said. “I mean, she had energy like no one else.”

Rep. Doris Matsui, D-California, also spoke, calling Slaughter a role model to everyone in Congress.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Connecticut, said members of the House still look for Slaughter on the floor.

“We all still look for her on the floor,” DeLauro said. “Often the aisle seat where she was, where she held court.”

Minerva ended the memorial for her mother with a reflection and thanked lawmakers for their speeches.

“She was funny, she was tenacious, she was stubborn…there’s nothing else I can say,” she said.

Slaughter's contributions to the arts was expected to be remembered at a Capitol reception following the memorial service hosted by Americans for the Arts. She founded the Congressional Arts Caucus and was a fierce advocate for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

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Congresswoman Louise Slaughter spoke at Greece Athena High School during an assembly at the school honoring students who have excelled academically in the arts and in sports. ANNETTE LEIN/file photo 2014

Louise Slaughter and Mark Assini, who are running against each other for the 25th District congressional seat, answer questions from the audience during an informal debate and Q&A session at the Irondequoit Kiwanis "Politicalendar" event held at Keenan's Restaurant in Irondequoit Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2014. Seated at center with the two is Frank Romeo, Kiwanis president back then. SHAWN DOWD/@sdowdphoto/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The East Rochester U.S. Post Office was dedicated and renamed the Officer Daryl R. Pierson Post Office, after the Rochester police officer who was slain while on the job in 2014. Unveiling the plaque were Rochester Police Chief Michael Cimminelli, U.S. Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, Daryl Pierson’s mother Debi Pierson and Daryl Pierson’s sister Julie as well as other family members. TINA MACINTYRE-YEE /@tyee23/staff photographer

Congresswoman Lousie Slaughter addressing rows of Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare supporters on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 15, 2017. Behind Slaughter, medical students of the University of Rochester line up to support Slaughter and the Affordable Care Act. OLIVIA LOPEZ/@olopez4/staff photographer

Louise Slaughter resigns from the Monroe County Legislature in 1979 to become director of upstate operations for then Lt. Gov. Mario Cuomo.
RESIGNED MO. CO. LEGISLATURE TO BECOME DIRECTOR OF UPSTATE OPERATIONS FOR LT. GOV. CUOMO PETER WEINBERGER/file photo

Rep. Louise Slaughter tours the laser lab at the University of Rochester.
David Riley/File photo
Rep. Louise Slaughter tours a laser lab at the University of Rochester. David Riley/@rilzd/staff photographer

U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-Fairport, waves from the Suffragist City Parade Saturday, July 22, 2017, in Rochesteer. The parade is among several events in VoteTilla, a weeklong celebration marking the 100th anniversary of women's right to vote in New York State. MAX SCHULTE, @maxrocphoto/staff photographer

Dean of the Eastman School of Music Jamal Rossi and Louise Slaughter chat with music students Aristea Mellos, Emlyn Johnson, Hanna Hurwitz and Daniel Ketter after their performance and a press conference on the importance of the arts in the new wing of the Eastman School of Music. CARLOS ORTIZ/@CFORTIZ_DANDC/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Louise Slaughter and NEA chairwoman Jane Chu will hold a press conference on the importance of the arts in the Wolk Atrium of the Eastman School of Music. CARLOS ORTIZ/@CFORTIZ_DANDC/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Left, U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter chats with major Nicholas Graham at forum for veterans to talk to them about finding jobs and starting new businesses, at the Rochester Education Opportunity Center in Rochester on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2013. CARLOS ORTIZ, staff photographer

U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter during a press conference at a forum for veterans to talk to them about finding jobs and starting new businesses, at the Rochester Education Opportunity Center in Rochester on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2013. CARLOS ORTIZ, staff photographer

U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter hosted a forum for veterans to talk to them about finding jobs and starting new businesses, at the Rochester Education Opportunity Center in Rochester on Tuesday, Aug. 6 2013. CARLOS ORTIZ/staff photographer

Dean of the Eastman School of Music Jamal Rossi and Louise Slaughter chat with music students Aristea Mellos, Emlyn Johnson, Hanna Hurwitz and Daniel Ketter after their performance and a press conference on the importance of the arts in the new wing of the Eastman School of Music. CARLOS ORTIZ/@CFORTIZ_DANDC/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Louise Slaughter and NEA chairwoman Jane Chu will hold a press conference on the importance of the arts in the Wolk Atrium of the Eastman School of Music in 2016. CARLOS ORTIZ/@CFORTIZ_DANDC/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Rep. Louise Slaughter talks about the importance of voting and being involved during an Undecided Rally for Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton at the American Legion Post on Buffalo Road in Riga. CARLOS ORTIZ/@CFORTIZ_DANDC/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Dr. Mike Haynie, with the Institute for Veterans and Military Families, stands next to U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter who watches his handshake with military veteran Colette Blais of Irondequoit at the Rochester Education Opportunity Center in Rochester on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2013. The even was a forum for veterans to talk to them about finding jobs and starting new businesses, something Blais is hoping to do. CARLOS ORTIZ, staff photographer

"She was the preeminent voice in Congress on the power of the arts to transform people’s lives and enrich local economies," the organization said in a statement. "Americans for the Arts and the nation’s arts community owe a debt of gratitude to Louise for her leadership."

Thousands of people attended Slaughter's funeral service at Rochester's Eastman Theatre last month, including dozens of her colleagues from the House of Representatives.

Pelosi also spoke at that service and remembered Rep. Slaughter as "a woman of fire and force" and "a perfect balance of grit and grace."

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Rep. John Lewis (D-Georgia) was the first speaker. The prominent civil rights leader was elected to Congress in 1987 part of the same freshman class as Louise Slaughter.
Pool video

She spoke of Rep. Slaughter's tireless advocacy for women's issues, including standing up for victims of domestic violence, funding research for women’s health issues, and supporting pro-choice causes.

Rep. John Lewis, D-Georgia, memorialized Slaughter as a fighter who "loved the creative beauty of our world."

In an interview before the funeral, he called her “a beautiful, beautiful spirit,” and said afterward: "We might not be so lucky to see the likes of her again. But hopefully we will. A generation still unborn will learn of her — and follow in her footsteps."

SLAHMAN@Gannett.com

MICSMAN@USATODAY.com

The dias and a portrait of Louise Slaughter in Statuary Hall prior to Wednesday's memorial service on Capitol Hill.(Photo11: Marilyn Icsman USA TODAY)